Town Trivia
Town Chatter stumped our readers with last week’s answer: The hike that allows you to look down into a volcano. The correct question: What is Cinder Cone?
This week’s answer: the largest geo-thermal area west of Yellowstone
This week’s sponsor Mill Creek Resort offing $5.00 off $20 at the Mill Creek Restaurant
Please send your question to Trivia@lakealmanorarea.com. We are always looking for sponsors for Town Trivia. If interested, please contact katherine@sansoneplus.com.
Our Newest Chamber Members & Sponsors
We are pleased to share the many new members becoming part of the Chamber Community and those stepping up to partner even more with the work we are doing for our businesses and to support and create an active, thriving community.
Welcome to Our Newest Chamber Members
RACHEL BETZLER
Koninkrijk Koffiehuis
MICHAEL CAREY
Professional Artists and Crafters
BOB AYERS
Waypoint Charters
MELANIE WESTBROOK
Sierra Desert Properties, INC
JILLIAN AND JOSEPH HOWER
Mill Creek Resort
Thank you to our $1,000 Platinum Sponsors
RYAN NEWELL
Ayoobs Intermountain Hardware
TAMI AND DUANE DE JONG
Lake Almanor Ace Hardware
STACY ANDERSON
Tantardino's
Thank you to our $2,500 Community Partners
TIM O'BRIEN, Coldwell Banker Kehr/O'Brien Real Estate
Tim brought on his entire Coldwell Banker crew!
SHAWN MCKENZIE, Seneca Health District
Shawn brings with him the entire staff of Doctors, PAs at Seneca
LINDA AND BOB ROULAND, Rouland Insurance
Linda and Bob are proud to become a sustaining partner of our work
Learn more here about becoming a member, or how to sponsor or become a partner of the work of the Chamber in our Community.
Job Board
Employment and Career Opportunities
The Greater Lake Almanor Basin offers a variety of seasonal, part and full-time positions for those seeking employment. Please check out the link below and discover how fun and rewarding a career or job in this beautiful area can be.
https://www.lakealmanorarea.com/employment.html
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Weekly Featured Job
Holiday Market is in full swing with summer hiring, AND if looking to start a career with a 100% Employee Owned Company, there are many positions open:
Cashiers, Courtesy Clerks, Produce Clerks, Bakery-Deli Clerks, Grocery/Freight Clerks, and Meat Clerks. Visit shopholidaymarket.com/careers and complete an online application.
About Us
Chamber Board Meetings are at 8:30 am on the 2nd TUESDAY of each month in the Chambe r office at 278 Main Street. All are welcome. Zoom is available.
Weather, Lake Almanor & Fish Report
John Crotty, Almanor Fishing Association 
4/24/21
I would like to preface this report by stating this past week has been one for the record books at Lake Almanor. Last Thursday CF&W planted 100,000 fertile fingerling browns. On Friday, CF&W planted 100,000 fingerling Salmon and on Sunday, the Almanor Fishing Association released 50,000 fertile West Virginia rainbows and 10,000 fertile browns. To top it all off, the Wild West Bass Circuit held a 33- boat, three-day, live-streamed tournament on the lake.
Hats off to Susan Bryner and the Lake Almanor Chamber, Todd Geer and staff of Plumas Pines, Carols Café in Prattville, Tom Hilder and all of our local businesses for making this historic event possible. I attended the weigh-in and while fishing was tough on Friday and the weather was miserable on Saturday there were a number of 15- plus pound limits of bass each day. The field was whittled to 10 boats after two days of tough fishing and on Sunday the 10 remaining anglers started from scratch. I will attend the weigh-in on Sunday and provide updates tomorrow afternoon.
Water temps remain unchanged at 50-55 degrees, clarity is 7-10’ and water level, while at historical low levels, continues to creep up. Bailey Creek has water flowing for the first time this year and the smaller feeder streams have slowed to a trickle. This past week fishing was tough as fish gorged themselves on insects. The bite picked up later in the week prior to high winds keeping boats off the water. Sunday’s storm brought snow, rain, wind and thunderstorms prior to settling down on Monday afternoon. Canyon Dam remains the only public boat ramp.
I have been slow trolling early and picking up speed as the sun gets on the water. The majority of the fishermen are targeting the north/west section of the lake as the recently released pen fish can be a nuisance on the east shore. There really has been no rhyme or reason to catching. You need to pick your preferred method, cover water and stick with it. Bank fishing remains tough as well, with Hamilton Branch your best shot at quality fish.
There is no update on PG&E’s relicensing of water releases from Almanor. The Lake Almanor Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing a town hall meeting for May 10 and I will continue to keep readers updated on this major and most concerning issue.
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Bits & Pieces
Seneca Hospital Auxiliary
The Auxiliary is happy to be back to in-person meetings held in the Lake Almanor Clinic Conference room. New members and visitors are always welcome at our meetings, which are held at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month March through November with the next meeting on May 12th.
For 70 years, Auxiliary members have been raising funds for the hospital, helping with activities in skilled nursing, serving on the linen team, and helping in other areas as needed. Our members can also be found working the biannual blood drives, scholarship committee, wellness clinic, community suppers, and the flu clinic. The need for volunteers is great and there are few organizations where your efforts are more appreciated. For information or to join as a volunteer, please call Dorothy Stroup 530-250-7958.
Peninsula Fire Sirens Thrift Store
 The Peninsula Fire Sirens Thrift Shop season opener is Saturday, May 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The shop’s regularly scheduled hours will be Wednesdays and Saturdays with the same hours, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Annual Memorial Day Sale will be a two-day event on Saturday, May 29, regular hours, and Sunday, May 30 from 7:00 a.m. until noon. Passes are available at Clifford gate. Masks required in the shop, sanitizer is available.
Edwin S. Butler Annual Pancake Breakfast
 The annual Pancake Breakfast on Memorial Day Weekend hosted by the Peninsula Fire Department will be Sunday, May 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Station 2. This is the fire department’s largest fundraiser with money going towards equipment and safety gear for the firemen. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, ham, juice, milk, and coffee. Adults are $15.00 and children 11 and under are $10.00. Tickets can be purchased from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Station 2, 801 Peninsula Drive, Lake Almanor Peninsula inside the gate of Lake Almanor Country Club and at Tantardino’s Pizza & Pasta located at 401 Ponderosa Drive, Lake Almanor; 530-596-3902. (link to flyer)
It’s the Season for Burning – Permits Required!
Spring has arrived (or so we think) and it is time to begin cleaning up our yards. With that, comes lots of debris to dispose of, i.e., burn. Please follow these guidelines and the need to purchase a burn permit as required by CAL FIRE.
https://www.facebook.com/653956128141055/posts/1558592401010752/?d=n
Annual Lake Almanor Memorial Weekend Craft Fair
 The Lake Almanor Memorial Craft Fair hosted by the Rotary Club of Chester at Chester Community Park will be held on Saturday and Sunday May 29 and 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. As with all events, Rotary will support all mandates issued by Plumas County but expect a full-house and a fun event for buyers and sellers. For an application, please click on (link) and for more information please contact
lakealmanormemorialdaycraftfair@yahoo.com.
Beautify Chester with Flower Boxes
 The Rotary Club of Chester is seeking both merchant hosts and sponsors for the “Flower Box Program,” a tradition started by the Lake Almanor Area Chamber as part of their 2008-2009 Main Street Beautification Project initially called Adopt-a-Flower-Box. The planter boxes are placed before Memorial Day and picked up after Labor Day. For more information, please see attached (link); contact Cheri McIntire, 530-249-2516 or cherimcintirerotary5190@yahoo.com
Plumas County Public Health Agency Vaccine Update
Please see the attached flyer regarding the vaccination clinic for ages 16-to-17 in Plumas County. The clinics will be held at each PUSD local high school: Chester, Greenville, Quincy, and Portola on April 29th during regular school hours. Please see the flyer regarding signing up for a vaccine as the clinics will not be made public through MYTurn. (link)
Save Lake Almanor Committee Presents at 1st Town Hall
 The Lake Almanor Area Chamber will be hosting Town Halls on the 1st Monday of each month from 5:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Memorial Hall, 225 Gay St. in Chester. These events will give a closer look at issues impacting our area and present how the community is making progress.
Wendi Durkin, Chair of the Save Lake Almanor Committee will be the speaker at the first event. Wendi presents an update on the long-running attempt by PG&E to re-license their operations at Lake Almanor, a journey that began over 16 years ago. Lake Almanor communities stand today on the precipice of both opportunity and risk. The opportunities lie with the realization of the recreational benefits to Lake Almanor included in the 2105 Settlement Agreement. The risk lies with the decision in the hands of the Federal Energy Resources Commission (FERC) to allow or deny a 250 cfs (cubic feet per second) draw of cold water draw from the lake during our summer months, a request made by the California Water Qualities Resources Board on behalf of entities that do not represent the interests of our community or our lake. This decision could have a devastating impact on the quality of water in our lake, our fishery, and the community.
Presentations will include information on the history of the re-licensing issue, where we stand today, and what options we have for influencing FERCs decision on re-licensing. Please attend this important community event at the Memorial Hall on May 10 at 5:15. For further information on the 2105 Re-Licensing go to http://www.project2105.org/
Mill Creek Resort “A Gem of-a-Find”
Jillian and Joe always knew that they wanted to live in a woodsy environment that offered an outdoor lifestyle away from city life. “Who knew we would find this gem, Mill Creek Resort, that gave us the opportunity to fulfill our dream of living in an area that fulfilled so many of our ‘wants’ including raising a family in a rural community,” says Jillian. Since their purchase in 2017, they have added their sidekick, Sonora, age one.
 Originally from San Diego, Jillian’s background includes managing Airbnb, which she certainly has found helpful, while Joe’s career was in technology; and formerly employed by San Diego State University. Though not exactly trained for this, their commitment to “going rural” has made them successful with clients already booking each year.
The 13 acres of grounds include nine quaint, rustic cabins with the largest sleeping up to six guests. Each cabin has a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, stove/oven, toaster, coffee maker, cookware; linens are provided and all cabins have a private bathroom. In keeping with the era, the cabins were built in 1936, there are no televisions, air conditioners or WIFI services. “Guests enjoy ‘checking out’ and prefer a hike at
Mt. Lassen Volcanic Park and the beauty of the area vs. streaming a video,” adds Jillian.
They also provide an RV Park with eight hook-ups and have two retro trailers for rent that are very popular. The campground has 17 sites with picnic tables, fire pits, and room for two cars. For those who don’t want to cook, the Mill Creek Restaurant serves a variety of fresh local fare and can seat up to 72 people, which includes outdoor seating outdoors. Mill Creek Resort has access to fishing and swimming, a playground for the kids who love to spend their evenings outside while parents enjoy one more glass of wine before bed.
They also provide an RV Park with eight hook-ups and have two retro trailers for rent that are very popular. The campground has 17 sites with picnic tables, fire pits, and room for two cars. For those who don’t want to cook, the Mill Creek Restaurant serves a variety of fresh local fare and can seat up to 72 people, which includes outdoor seating outdoors. Mill Creek Resort has access to fishing and swimming, a playground for the kids who love to spend their evenings outside while parents enjoy one more glass of wine before bed.
Mill Creek invites you for Mother’s Day “Mama’s and Mimosa Brunch” May 9th and the Father’s Day Weekend Arts & Crafts Show June 19th and 20th. For more information, please visit www.millcreekresort.net or call 530.595.4449.
Farmer’s Market “Happening” in Chester
The Lake Almanor Area Chamber and the Almanor Foundation are excited to announce the first event hosted by our planned Town Plaza, a weekly Farmer’s Market opening Thursday, June 17 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and continuing through mid-October at Chester Community Park. Jennie Mathews, Market Manager assisted by Mary Austin of the Coffee Station, couldn’t be more excited to oversee this much wanted and anticipated event.
“Farmer’s Markets are ‘happy places’ for a community. It allows people to gather, support local farmers and find the freshest of veggies,” says Mathews. Besides fresh produce the market will offer artisan goods such as homemade candies, granolas, pressed olive oils and a selection of much sought-after products from our talented crafters. Beer, wine, and local cider will be available; and the Farmer’s Market team hopes to showcase live music as the season progresses.
Vendor booth fees are $25 per show or $350 for the 17-week season, a savings of $75. For more information, please contact Jennie Mathews at 530-616-8104 or fm@lakealmanorarea.com
The Apex Tour at Lake Almanor
A tour like none other with 33 Elite Anglers of the West Coast battling it out for the Apex 2021 Title.
 A parade of glittering bass boats decked out with the latest gear pulled into Chester Thursday night anticipating angling for the “big one” to win the Apex 2021 title.
"The event has been a great success due to tremendous support within the community. We can’t thank you enough for your hospitality and warm welcome," said tour organizers, Randy McBride and Jeremy DeHart.
 Austin Wilson, pro from Citrus Heights, Calif., caught a 5-bass limit of 17.13 pounds to win the inaugural APEX Cup on Lake Almanor presented by Bridgford Outdoors. Read more on how Austin won and what he was using on Almanor to challenge the tough fishing conditions - http://apexprotour.com/wilson-wins-inaugural-apex-cup.../
Fun-Facts on May Day
1. The Maypole Dance
May Day is best known now for the medieval tradition of "dancing the maypole dance," a custom that continues to be practiced. Young maidens circle the decorated pole weaving together patterns of ribbons in the process. Hawthorne and lily of the valley are traditional flowers used for garland.
2. Fairy Tale
Some beliefs held that May Day was the last chance for fairies to travel to the Earth.
3. Facial Treatments
Tradition dictates that washing one's face in the dew from May Day morning beautifies the skin.
4. May Day Baskets
The giving of May Baskets has, sadly, faded since the late 20th century. Small baskets of sweets and flowers would be left anonymously on doorsteps to the delight of neighbors. (Wouldn’t that be a nice tradition to start again?)
5. Happy Day
In Italy, May Day is regarded as the happiest day of the year.
6. Hawaii's Own Celebration
Since 1928, May Day in Hawaii has been known as Lei Day, a spring celebration that embraces Hawaiian culture and the lei. The holiday song, "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i," was originally a fox trot, but was rearranged as a Hawaiian hula.
7. Distress Signals
The international distress signal, "mayday," has nothing to do with the first of May. It derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come help me."
Celebrating our Mother’s
Buona Festa della mamma . . . Bonne Fête des mères. . . Furaha Ya Mama Siku
 No matter how it is said or in what language, the celebrations of mothers and motherhood tracing back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, the sentiment remains the same: Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. We love you.
Each of us has our own way of thanking mom and here to help celebrate “her day” are the following restaurants inviting you to share honoring mom with them.
Sierra Institute Partners with High-Road Training Projects for Wildfire Mitigation Projects
 Historic wildfire seasons have elevated awareness and increased urgency around forest management. To help fill this critical need, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment was awarded one million dollars for a High Road to Forest Restoration Partnership that will provide pathways to jobs and on-the-job training to develop the workforce needed for crucial landscape restoration in the forests of Central and Northern California.
Coordinated by the Sierra Institute, this multi-agency partnership is a key step in building a regional capacity to train the workforce needed to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration and reduce catastrophic wildfire risk. Communities most impacted by forest health will see expanded career opportunities within the forest sector, with jobs geared toward landscape stewardship, climate mitigation, and fire risk-reduction projects, and environmentally sustainable practices. Key partners are Sierra Institute and Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions (CHIPS), tribes, and community colleges, including Feather River College. The program will include paid work experience and training for individuals already working on forest restoration crews, as well as community members interested in forest restoration work.
The Importance of an Annual Physical
It’s the Season for Arts & Crafts Shows
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